Gun Sling with Tourniquet and Methods of Making the Same

ABSTRACT

Gun slings including a tourniquet sleeve and tourniquet are disclosed and described along with methods of making them. In some embodiments, a gun sling may have an attached tourniquet sleeve to hold a resilient member tourniquet such that the sleeve conforms to the shape and flexibility of the gun sling so that the function of the gun sling is not impeded.

PRIORITY

This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent ApplicationNo. 61/952,308 entitled Guns Sling with Tourniquet and Methods of Makingthe Same, filed on Mar. 13, 2014, which is hereby incorporated byreference in its entirety.

FIELD

This application relates generally firearm accessories. Moreparticularly, this application relates to gun slings having atourniquet.

BACKGROUND

People who carry rifles, shotguns, and other long guns are often at somerisk of serious injury, either due to other weapons, or because riflesare often used in rough, wild, and dangerous terrain where people can beseriously injured. For example, police, military, and hunters are all atintermittent risk of serious injury from various sources, including fromfalls and weapons. As such, each of these activities usually includesthe prudent carrying of a first-aid kit. One important part of a traumafirst aid kit would include a tourniquet or something that may be usedas a tourniquet for keeping an individual from bleeding to death aftersuffering serious injury to a limb.

The problem with first-aid kits, however, is that are often left in avehicle, or overlooked before certain activities. What is needed isconvenient first-aid implements easily carried by people with rifleswhen engaged in dangerous activities.

SUMMARY

Gun slings including a tourniquet sleeve and tourniquet are disclosedand described along with methods of making them. In some embodiments, agun sling may have an attached tourniquet sleeve to hold a resilientmember tourniquet such that the sleeve conforms to the shape andflexibility of the gun sling so that the function of the gun sling isnot impeded.

The sling may include an adjustable length of material having a firstend and a second end, each of the first and and second ends beingconfigured to removably attach to a firearm to form a sling. The slingmay also have a tourniquet sleeve attached to a portion of theadjustable length of material, and a resilient member tourniquet withinthe tourniquet sleeve. The sling may also have a securement loopproximate to an opening in the tourniquet sleeve. The tourniquet mayalso have a securement tool, and the securement tool may selectivelyengage with the securement loop to hold the tourniquet in the tourniquetsleeve.

In some embodiments, the tourniquet sleeve may be selectively attachableto and detachable from the portion of the adjustable length of material,for example, with hook and loop fasteners. In other embodiments, thetourniquet sleeve may be formed as part of the sling, for example, thetourniquet sleeve may be sewn to a portion of the adjustable length ofmaterial.

A tourniquet on a rifle sling may be used by attaching a sling to arifle, wherein the sling has a tourniquet sleeve; inserting a tourniquetinto the tourniquet sleeve; carrying the rifle with the tourniquet inthe tourniquet sleeve; and removing the tourniquet from the tourniquetsleeve. Some uses may include securing the tourniquet into thetourniquet sleeve using a tourniquet securement tool, or discharging therifle with the tourniquet in the tourniquet sleeve, or even applying thetourniquet to an injured person.

These and other aspects will become more fully apparent from thefollowing description and appended drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following description can be better understood in light of Figures,in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a gun sling with anintegrated tourniquet pouch and tourniquet attached to a rifle;

FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a gun sling with anintegrated tourniquet pouch and tourniquet;

FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a tourniquet pouch andtourniquet;

FIG. 4 illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a section of a tourniquetpouch with hidden lines representing a tourniquet in the tourniquetpouch;

FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate features of an exemplary embodiment of a gunsling with a tourniquet pouch and tourniquet; and

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate another exemplary embodiment of a tourniquetpouch and tourniquet attachable to a gun sling.

Together with the following description, the Figures demonstrate andexplain the principles of exemplary gun slings with tourniquets andassociated methods of making and using them. In the Figures, the sizeand relative placement of components and regions of illustrated devicesmay be exaggerated or modified for clarity. The same reference numeralsin different drawings represent the same element, and thus theirdescriptions may not be repeated. Some drawings may omit certaincomponents not necessary for describing the illustrated embodiments, butwhich would be known to those of ordinary skill in the art to be presentin and with firearms.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As in the illustrated embodiments, aspects and features of gun slingswith tourniquet sleeves and tourniquets and associated methods of makingand using them are disclosed and described below. The followingdescription supplies specific details in order to provide a thoroughunderstanding. Nevertheless, the skilled artisan would understand thatthe apparatus and associated methods of using the apparatus can beimplemented and used without employing these specific details. Indeed,the devices and associated methods can be placed into practice bymodifying the illustrated devices and associated methods and can be usedin conjunction with any other apparatus and techniques conventionallyused in the industry. For example, while this description and associatedFigures focus on a rifle sling with an integrated tourniquet sleeve andtourniquet, other embodiments may include a tourniquet attached to a gunsling with a temporary attachment.

Conventionally, gun slings (rifle slings) are formed with the soledesign purpose of securing a firearm to an individual when engaging invarious physical activities, such as hiking, parachuting, climbing, etc.Rifle slings may have various length adjustment mechanisms and variousconnector designs for attaching the sling to a rifle—sometimes withquick-release or easy adjustment features, particularly for rifle slingsused in military and other tactical applications.

Gun slings disclosed in this application include an attached, easilyaccessible tourniquet generally extending along a length of the gunsling such that the tourniquet does not interfere with the traditionalfunctionality of the gun sling. In some embodiments, a tourniquet sleevemay be formed onto a portion of the gun sling to allow a tourniquet tobe placed in the sleeve for easy access in case of an emergency. In manycases, a person that is likely to encounter trauma while engaged infirearm related activities will have the firearm with them at all times,such that the tourniquet will almost always be immediately available tostop bleeding should a serious incident occur.

Turning now to the Figures, FIG. 1 shows a gun sling system 100 attachedto rifle 10. Sling system 100 may include a gun sling 120, a tourniquetpouch or sleeve 130 fixed to the gun sling 120 and a tourniquet 110positioned inside of the tourniquet pouch 130. Gun sling 120 as shownincludes attachment points 122, 124 for attaching sling 120 toattachment points 12 and 14 on rifle 10. Of course any suitableattachment mechanisms for securing sling 120 onto a rifle may be usedwith sling 120. Sling 120 may also include a quick adjustment mechanism140. Quick adjustment mechanism 140 may include a speed buckle 142operated by pulling tab 144 to release or pulling end 146 to tighten.

Tourniquet 110 may be formed using a resilient length of material 112along with a tourniquet securement tool 114 for securing the material toitself. Such types of tourniquets do not require the use of a turnhandle as traditional tourniquets using a non-resilient material do.This type of tourniquet may be applied one handed by an individual on aninjured limb by stretching the resilient member 112 around the injuredlimb and securing it onto itself with tourniquet securement tool 114 tokeep the tourniquet tight enough to slow or stop bleeding in the injuredlimb.

As shown in FIGS. 1-6, tourniquet 110 may be carried within tourniquetpouch 130. Tourniquet pouch 130 may include securing loop 132 to providean anchor point for tourniquet securement tool 114 in order to holdtourniquet in an easily accessible but secure position within tourniquetpouch 130. Tourniquet 110 may be doubled over and then inserted throughinto the interior 134 of tourniquet pouch 130. When fully inserted,tourniquet securement tool 114 may extend along with a small portion ofresilient member 112 out of the pouch 130 proximate to securing loop132. Securement tool 114 may then be secured to securing loop 132. Othertypes of tourniquets may also be stored in tourniquet pouch 130. In suchembodiments, tourniquet pouch 130, 230 may include an opening forinserting the tourniquet into the sleeve and/or may also include acovering, or lid to secure the tourniquet within the sleeve.

Tourniquet pouch 130 may be formed by sewing or otherwise attaching atop layer 138 to a base layer 136 on three sides to create a sleeve orpocket having one open or openable end where tourniquet 110 maybeselectively inserted or removed. In some embodiments, base layer 136 maybe part of gun sling 120. I other embodiments, pouch 130 may be formedfrom a tube material such that base layer 136 and top layer 138 aresides of a tube of material. In yet other embodiments, base layer 136may include attachment mechanisms for attaching tourniquet pouch 130 toa gun sling. For example, base layer 136 may include a hook and loopfastener material along its bottom length for securing to a cooperatinghook and loop fastening material on a gun sling. Other embodiments mayinclude snaps, buttons, or other mechanisms for securing tourniquetpouch 130 to gun sling 120, or any desired gun sling. One suchembodiment is discussed in further detail below with respect to FIGS. 7and 8.

Another embodiment of a tourniquet pouch 230 that may be attached to agun sling is shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. Top layer 238 may be attached tobase layer 236 as described above. Attachment 250 may be included withtourniquet pouch 230 and may include folds 252 and 254. Folds 252 and254 may be extensions from base layer 236, or may be separate pieces offabric or other suitable material. To attach to a rifle sling, a bottomportion of base layer 236 may be placed against the rifle sling withfolds 252 and 254 extended. Folds 252 and 254 may then be folded aroundthe rifle sling an attached to each other to form a channel throughwhich the rifle sling extends. Folds 252, 254 may include cooperativehook and loop fasteners, snaps, buttons, or any other suitable mechanismto form a channel through with a rifle sling may extend and securetourniquet pouch 230 to the rifle sling. In some embodiments, folds 252,254 may be include resilient materials biased towards a closed positionsuch that a rifle sling may be held by a portion of folds 252, 254biased into a channel, but which may be moved to allow positioning ofthe rifle sling.

Each component of the sling system 100 and of other embodiments may beformed of any suitable material for making rifle slings and tourniquetpouches. For example, nylon webbing and nylon fabric may be used to formthe various components along with metal or polymer hardware for therifle sling.

In addition to any previously indicated modification, numerous othervariations and alternative arrangements may be devised by those skilledin the art without departing from the spirit and scope of thisdescription, and appended claims are intended to cover suchmodifications and arrangements. Thus, while the information has beendescribed above with particularity and detail in connection with what ispresently deemed to be the most practical and preferred aspects, it willbe apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerousmodifications, including, but not limited to, form, function, manner ofoperation and use may be made without departing from the principles andconcepts set forth herein. Also, as used herein, examples are meant tobe illustrative only and should not be construed to be limiting in anymanner.

What is claimed is:
 1. A sling for a firearm, the sling comprising: anadjustable length of material having a first end and a second end, eachof the first and and second ends being configured to removably attach toa firearm to form a sling; a tourniquet sleeve attached to a portion ofthe adjustable length of material; and a resilient member tourniquetwithin the tourniquet sleeve.
 2. The sling of claim 1, furthercomprising a securement loop proximate to an opening in the tourniquetsleeve.
 3. The sling of claim 2, wherein the tourniquet includes asecurement tool.
 4. The sling of claim 3, wherein the securement toolselectively engages with the securement loop to hold the tourniquet inthe tourniquet sleeve.
 5. The sling of claim 1, wherein the tourniquetsleeve is selectively attachable to and detachable from the portion ofthe adjustable length of material.
 6. The sling of claim 5, wherein thetourniquet sleeve is attached to portion of the adjustable length ofmaterial with hook and loop fasteners.
 7. The sling of claim 1, whereinthe tourniquet sleeve is sewn to a portion of the adjustable length ofmaterial.
 8. A method of carrying a tourniquet on a rifle sling, themethod comprising: attaching a sling to a rifle, wherein the sling has atourniquet sleeve; inserting a tourniquet into the tourniquet sleeve;carrying the rifle with the tourniquet in the tourniquet sleeve; andremoving the tourniquet from the tourniquet sleeve.
 9. The method ofclaim 8, further comprising, securing the tourniquet into the tourniquetsleeve using a tourniquet securement tool.
 10. The method of claim 8,further comprising, discharging the rifle with the tourniquet in thetourniquet sleeve.
 11. The method of claim 8, further comprising,applying the tourniquet to an injured person.
 12. A tourniquet slingsystem for a firearm, the system comprising: a firearm sling having afirst end and a second end, each of the first and and second ends beingconfigured to removably attach to a firearm; a tourniquet sleeveattached to the sling; and a tourniquet carried within the tourniquetsleeve.
 13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a securement loopproximate to an opening in the tourniquet sleeve.
 14. The system ofclaim 13, wherein the tourniquet includes a securement tool.
 15. Thesystem of claim 14, wherein the securement tool selectively engages withthe securement loop to hold the tourniquet in the tourniquet sleeve. 16.The system of claim 12, wherein the tourniquet sleeve is attached to thetourniquet sleeve with hook and loop fasteners.
 17. The system of claim12, wherein the tourniquet sleeve is sewn to the sling.
 18. The systemof claim 12, wherein the tourniquet sleeve is integrally formed as aportion of the sling.